Reflect Your Good Taste
By Lori Steiner
Mirror, mirror on the wall, why does my bathroom look so . . . well . . . boring. Maybe it’s time for a little bathroom freshening. Bathrooms are one of the easiest rooms in your home to decorate. The fixtures are in place and what’s left is only limited by your imagination.
A fresh coat of paint is one of the easier changes you can make. And don’t be afraid of color. A small powder room can become a dramatic statement when painted a rich sea green or an earthy terra cotta.
Don’t limit accessories to those specifically made for the bathroom. A small candy dish or seashell makes a great soap dish. Roll washcloths and towels and stack them in a basket or on a tray. Flower pots or small vases are great for holding toothbrushes.
From a decorative standpoint, jars filled with bath salts or guest soaps look great on countertops. Or fill them with sand and small shells to capture the freshness of sea breezes. Group with larger conch shells, starfish and framed old postcards from a beach town and you’ll have summer all year long.
For an Old World feel, search flea markets for lovely china pieces. Mismatched china is inexpensive yet brings a richness to a room, yes, even the bathroom. Select china in different patterns and sizes but the same color, such as a pink floral motif or blue leaf pattern. A china bowl can hold soaps or potpourri; a small pitcher makes a great vase. A covered dish or soup tureen is perfect for storing toilet tissue, cotton swabs and other bathroom necessities. Finally, hang a collection of plates on the wall and the English countryside is yours.
It’s all a reflection of your taste. And speaking of reflection, let’s take another look at the mirror. A plain mirror takes on a whole new look with a beautiful frame. Choose a white plank or lattice-style frame for a cottage look, chrome or black for a contemporary style, or a decorative gold frame for an elegant, more formal style.
For something really different, replace the single mirror with a grouping of small framed mirrors of various sizes. Arrange them in the same manner you would arrange a grouping of prints or photos. This works particularly well in a powder room.
No matter what your individual style, let your bathroom reflect it. It’s a mirror of your taste. It’s your home. |
